UK to open visa centre in Punjab, mulls London-Punjab police link

CHANDIGARH: Considering that immigrants add 6 billion pounds to its economy annually, Britain has offered to open a visa centre in Punjab to encourage people to enter the country through "legal channels".

It is also mulling feasibility of a video conferencing link between London and Punjab police headquarters for fast -track verification of the national status of illegal immigrants.

The visa centre would be set up either at Ludhiana or Chandigarh and later be converted into a consulate, UK Home Office Minister of State for Immigration Liam Byrne said during a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ans senior officials here today.

Byrne was on a day's visit to the city accompanied by a cross-party delegation of British Asian community leaders.

He discussed the possibility of a video conferencing link between London and Punjab police HQ and asked Punjab police to help check illegal immigration into the UK.

State DIG N P S Aulakh apprised the meeting about efforts being made to check illegal immigration and the proposed Punjab Human Trafficking Act.

He sought the British government's cooperation on the problem of NRIs marrying Indian girls and then deserting them.